Giro 2015: Stage 5 Favourites - First mountain stage

Two serious climbs in stage 5 and a top finish after a long ascent. Is it up to the GC-man this early in the race or will it be for the adventurous minds? (Slideshow route/profile)

What’s it going to be after yesterday’s battle? Astana again showing their bare teeth? Then again, Tinkoff-Saxo did exactly the same thing in stage 3 and, more or less, it turned out sour in La Spezia. The Giro is one big exploration until now.

Odds ar on it will be up for to the adventurers in the peloton today. Last year it was Diego Ulissi outsprinting a decimated pack in the first mountain stage. Don’t be suprised if Michael Matthews is strong enough to survive the mountains and sprint to victory in stage 5. Then again, in stage 4 he was slaugthered by the Astana’s powerplay in the finale. It all depends on the pace…

If an early break makes it till the finish the likes of Pieter Weening, Giovanni Visconti, Simon Geschke, Yuri Trofimov, Przemyslaw Niemiec, Enrico Battaglin, Stefano Pirazzi and Sébastien Reichenbach will be eyeing up their chances.

*** Diego Ulissi, Yuri Trofimov
** Pieter Weening, Giovanni Visconti, Simon Geschke,
* Przemyslaw Niemiec, Enrico Battaglin, Stefano Pirazzi, Sébastien Reichenbach

In underneath slideshow you’ll find all maps concerning stage 5.